14 replies to this topic

[projectphp]

http://www.mattcutts...vs-underscores/

Not that I think we should over-estimate the Blogs validity, but that conversation is eerily similar to how I discovered Google, as I couldn't find a C function description anywhere, until a (random person again) said that silly word Google. Really helped me in my cut, copy, paste err, I mean IT degree

[Jill]

For those who don't feel like clicking through:

For urls in Google, I would recommend using dashes.

[projectphp]

LOL, nice summary

[bwelford]

I couldn't even see why this topic deserved a blog entry and certainly not a thread about the blog entry.

However I see in the comments to the blog entry that 'Catherine Zeta-Jones' apparently has a problem with all this. So I suggest we wrestle this problem to the ground.

[Jill]

So I suggest we wrestle this problem to the ground.

Barry!

[Randy]

Thanks Barry. I needed that laugh.

[GaryBradshaw]

Does this mean we should think about changing URL's to dashes? Or at least naming new URL's to dashes?

[Jill]

Are you having a problem with them the way you have them now, Gary?

[Brad Callen]

Interesting post. That's good to know, as I often am asked that question and that's probably the best explanation I've heard in a long time. Thanks!

Brad

[GaryBradshaw]

Are you having a problem with them the way you have them now, Gary?

Well that is a good question, the site is working its way up the rankings. But I am not sure if I am having a problem or not.

If they would rank better with a dash, then I am having a problem :-)

How would I know if I am having a problem?

[qwerty]

Think of it this way: using hyphens instead of underscores means that keywords in the URLs will be recognized, whereas they wouldn't be otherwise. So that's something, but how much of something? Personally, I doubt it's a major ranking factor, and if you've already got URLs moving up in the SERPs, you're going to have to 301 all of them to their nifty new hyphenated addresses.

I don't really think it's worth the trouble.

[Jill]

If they would rank better with a dash

They wouldn't.

[GaryBradshaw]

They wouldn't.

Then I won't

[projectphp]

Then I won't

And me happy

[tempy]

Although, I have seen some annecdotal evidence that Adsense adverts seem to draw some of their relevance from url 'keywords'. For what that's worth. But then maybe the people who changed their urls for adsense purposes would have got more relevant results anyway, had they been more patient.